Improvement in uterine supporters



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S. VAN CLEVE, OF CENTRALIA, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN UTERINE SUPPORTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 118,073, dated August 15, 1871.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. VAN CLEV'E, M. l), of Genti-alia, in the county of Marion and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Uterine Regulator and Supporter; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact descri} tion thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of' this specification.

My invention consists in an improvement upon uterine regulators and supporters, as hereinafter fully described and subsequently pointed out in the claim.

Figure l is a perspective view of the apparatus applied to a patient. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view ofthe apparatus alone. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus as it appears on the person of a patient, and Fig. 4 is a see tion ofthe uterus-holder and injector enlarged.

A represents a wide front or abdominal band, and B a wide backband,which are connected together by the adiustingstraps C and suspended by the shoulder-straps D. They are also held against rising up by the under straps E,passing under and between thel thighs. These broad bands are provided with stays F, composed of galvanic plates, employed both to regulate the positions ofthe bands and to give support to rclaxed muscles. rIhese plates, which are of copper and zinc, are an inch or more wide, and four or six inches long. They are soldered together or riveted at onefend, and insulated by a thin coat of copal or some other gum to their opposite extremities or electrodes. The abdominal band A is provided with a strong wire frame, G, projecting downward and termin ating in front ofthe vagina, with a socket or tube, Il, for supporting the uterine regulator, which consists of a silver cup, I, on the end of a curved tube, K, of zinc and copper, insulated, and so shaped that, being clamped at one end in the tube or socketII by a thumb-screw, O, the cup at the other vend will be held in the proper position for receiving the lower end of the uterus and holding it in place. rlhe tube is extended above the bottom of' the cup, as shown at J, and fitted f'or screwing on a nozzle, L, for inserting in the mouth of' the uterus for injecting fluids thereto, the said fluids being forced in through the tube in any suitable way.

It' it be desired to apply fluids to the exterior ofthe uterus the nozzle L will be detached. rIhe cup is provided with a sponge, N, whereon powders or cerates may be placed, or into which fluids maybe thrown for treating the uterus. Nozzles of' different sizes may be applied to the extension J oi the tube, and the cup I maybe adjusted higher or lower in the vagina by shifting in the tube H, according to the nature of the case in hand.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The tube K, extended above the bottom of the cup of a pessary, and provided with a detacha ble nozzle, L, for entering the uterus, substantially as speciied.

WILLIAM S. VAN CLEVE, M. D. W'itnesses A. S. BARNES, M. D., WILLIAM WILEY. 

